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silverfish
silverfish common name for primitive, wingless insects of the family Lepismatidae. The silverfish, which has two long antennae and three long tail bristles, is named for its covering of tiny, silvery scales. It develops directly in six or more molts into an adult about 1/2 in. (1.27 cm) long. It has chewing mouthparts set in a head cavity and eats starch from book bindings, wallpaper, and clothing. The silverfish is common indoors in cool, damp places such as basements. The firebrat, in the same taxonomic family, is found in warm places, e.g., near steampipes and boilers. Silverfish are classified in the phylum Arthropoda , class Insecta, order Thysanura, family Lepismatidae. |
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"silverfish." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "silverfish." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-silverfi.html "silverfish." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-silverfi.html |
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silverfish
sil·ver·fish / ˈsilvərˌfish/ • n. (pl. same or -fishes) 1. a chiefly nocturnal silvery bristletail (Lepisma saccharina, family Lepismatidae) that frequents houses and other buildings, feeding on starchy materials. 2. a silver-colored fish, esp. a goldfish of an unpigmented variety. |
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"silverfish." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "silverfish." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-silverfish.html "silverfish." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-silverfish.html |
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silverfish
silverfish (bristletail) Primitive, grey, wingless insect found throughout the world. It lives in cool, damp places, feeding on starchy materials such as food scraps and paper. It gets its name from the silvery scales that cover its body. Length: 13mm (0.5in). Family Lepismatidae; species Lepisma saccharina.
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"silverfish." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "silverfish." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-silverfish.html "silverfish." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-silverfish.html |
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silverfish
silverfish (subclass Apterygota, order Thysanura) Common name for members of the family Lepismatidae; it is sometimes used to denote any member of the Thysanura.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "silverfish." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "silverfish." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-silverfish.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "silverfish." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-silverfish.html |
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silverfish
silverfish
•raffish • damselfish
•catfish, flatfish
•garfish, starfish
•redfish
•elfish, selfish, shellfish
•devilfish
•crayfish, waifish
•stiffish • kingfish • jellyfish
•killifish • filefish • pipefish
•white fish
•offish, standoffish
•codfish • dogfish • rockfish • crawfish
•swordfish
•blowfish, oafish
•goldfish
•bonefish, stonefish
•wolfish
•huffish, roughish, toughish
•mudfish • monkfish • cuttlefish
•lungfish • lumpfish • spearfish
•angelfish • parrotfish • silverfish
•haggish, waggish
•vaguish
•biggish, piggish, priggish, whiggish
•doggish, hoggish
•roguish, voguish
•puggish, sluggish, thuggish
•largish
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Cite this article
"silverfish." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 13 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "silverfish." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 13, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-silverfish.html "silverfish." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 13, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-silverfish.html |
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